[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49774-49775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20200]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49774]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection; USDA Registration Form To Request Electronic 
Access Code

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506), this notice announces and requests comments on the 
intention of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to 
request approval for the continuation of and changes to an information 
collection necessary to allow USDA customers to securely and 
confidently share data and receive services electronically. Authority 
for obtaining information from customers is included in the Freedom to 
E-File Act (7 U.S.C. 7031-7035), the Electronic Signatures in Global 
and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN) (15 U.S.C. 7001-7031), and the E-
Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3601-3606; 3541-3549). Customer 
information is collected through the USDA eAuthentication Service 
(eAuth), located at http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov. The USDA eAuth 
service provides the public and government businesses with a single 
sign-on capability for USDA applications, management of user 
credentials, and verification of identity, authorization, and 
electronic signatures. USDA's eAuth service obtains customer 
information through an electronic self registration process provided 
through the eAuth Web site. This voluntary on-line self registration 
process enables USDA customers, as well as employees, to obtain 
accounts as authorized users that will provide single sign-on 
capability to access USDA Web applications and services via the 
Internet.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 16, 2012 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this information collection to Pam Weber, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building 
A--Suite 205B, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526. Fax comments should be 
sent to the attention of Pam Weber at fax number (970) 295-5528.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Weber by telephone at (970) 295-
5130, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USDA Registration Form to Request Electronic Access Code.
    OMB Number: 0503-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The USDA OCIO has developed eAuth as a management and 
technical process that addresses user authentication and authorization 
prerequisites for providing services electronically. The process 
requires a one-time electronic self registration to obtain an eAuth 
account for each USDA customer desiring access to on-line services or 
applications that require user authentication. USDA customers can self 
register for a Level 1 or Level 2 Access account. A Level 1 Access 
account provides users with limited access to USDA Web site portals and 
applications that have minimal security requirements. A Level 2 Access 
account enables users to conduct official electronic business 
transactions via the Internet, enter into a contract with the USDA, and 
submit forms electronically via the Internet to USDA agencies. Due to 
the increased customer access associated with a Level 2 Access account, 
customers must be identity proofed, in addition to completing an 
electronic self registration. Identity proofing can be accomplished for 
customers in two ways: (1) By visiting a local registration authority 
at a USDA Service Center, or (2) through a new on-line identity 
proofing service. The new on-line identity proofing service will 
provide registrants with a more efficient mechanism to have their 
identity proofed. The on-line identity proofing requires responses to 
at least four randomly selected identity questions that are verified by 
a third party identity proofing service in an automated interface. Once 
an account is activated, customers may use the associated user ID and 
password that they created to access USDA resources that are protected 
by eAuth.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to take eight (8) minutes to complete the self 
registration process for a Level 1 Access account. A Level 2 Access 
account registration is estimated to be completed in one hour 40 
minutes when travelling to a USDA Service Center to visit a local 
registration authority (expected to be approximately 30% of the 
registrants), or 50 minutes when using the on-line identity proofing 
service (expected to be approximately 70% of the registrants).
    Respondents: Individual USDA Customers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 114,841 Level 1 and 14,860 Level 2 
for an estimated total of 129,701 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 31,077 hours.
    Comments are invited on (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of the information on those 
who respond, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, technological or other forms of information technology 
collection methods. Copies of the information collection may be 
obtained from Ms. Weber by calling or emailing your request to the 
contact information above in the Addresses section. All responses to 
this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB

[[Page 49775]]

approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Cheryl L. Cook,
Chief Information Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
USDA.
[FR Doc. 2012-20200 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
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